Meandering through the maize (and blue): Reports say auditors say Michigan basketball coach John Beilein's payments to West Virginia illegal
The $1.5 million breach of contract settlement between Michigan men's basketball coach John Beilein and his former school, West Virginia, is apparently illegal according to reports following an audit.
When Beilein left, the West Virginia board of governors agreed to have Beilein pay the settlement to the WVU Foundation, according to the Charleston Gazette. The Foundation is not part of the University and is considered a private, non-profit.
The Gazette reports Beilein's payment of $300,000 from 2009 has been transferred from the foundation to the University and his three remaining payments will be transferred in the same manner.
"In this instance, they opted to transfer $1.5 million to a non-state agency illegally, and without the approval of the Legislature," Legislative Auditor Aaron Allred told the Legislative Post-Audits Committee in the Gazette. The report makes it sound more like West Virginia's error than Beilein's.
This wasn't an issue with Rich Rodriguez' settlement payment, which went right to West Virginia, the story said.
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Comments
maizenbluenc
Thu, Sep 17, 2009 : 2:28 p.m.
It does say that Richi Rod is paying his legally -- he's doing something right!
jeremy
Thu, Sep 17, 2009 : 8:11 a.m.
actually the headline made me think that beilein wasnt going to have to pay west virginia, not that the coach was doing anything wrong itself.... Perception in this cynical town is so tick tack....if someone doesnt agree with your point of view you call for a job, if someone says something the wrong way the public wants him run out of town...Can the posters on this website please start fully thinking of the meanings of the headlines without thinking someone is being attacked??? the same with posters who dont share your point of view? seriously lets grow up and stop being such a highly sensitive community...
tomhagan
Thu, Sep 17, 2009 : 4:04 a.m.
Annarbor.com is clearly turning in to the Freep. What a shame.
amazenblue
Wed, Sep 16, 2009 : 9:40 p.m.
Your headline is misleading and unethical. Ann Arbor.com should take disciplinary action. Of course, the jury is out on whether unethical journalistic practices are prohibited at Ann Arbor.com.
massblue
Wed, Sep 16, 2009 : 9:12 p.m.
Who do we have to see to get this guy fired. You call this journalism? The story has nothing to do with UM or coach JB. Why do you write this as if it was UM's fault? This is not honest reporting. How lazy can you be, man. Do some investigation, come up with a story rather than these cheap shots. Even better, take journalism 101.
A2Dave
Wed, Sep 16, 2009 : 5:46 p.m.
"The report makes it sound more like West Virginia's error than Beilein's. Which would explain why your headline says "Bielen's payments to West Virginia Illegal" rather than "West Virginia May Have Handled Bielen Payment Illegally". Lot sexier if you can attack the coach, rather than his old employer, no? Mr. Rothstein's columns are certainly a welcome addition to the Ann Arbor media environment.